SailorStar9: With Chapter 10 uploaded, this is Chapter 11 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Pairings: Ishida/Hasu, minor pairing Hitsugaya/Karin
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.
Chapter 11: Reality Of The Despair, The Assassin's Dagger Is Swung
Central 46. Hitsugaya mused. It is composed of 40 sages brought together from all across Soul Society, as well as 6 judges It is Soul Society's greatest justice machine. All the crimes the Shinigami commit will be tried here, without being questioned by Soul Society. If it is decided that military force is needed, then with their ruling, orders will be handed down to the Kido Corps, the Onmitsukidō and the Gotei 13. And once a ruling has been given, even a Captain will not be allowed to object. That is Central Room 46. "What is is?" he stopped right at the doors of the judicial hall, stunned that the entire Central 46 were murdered right in their seats. "What's going on? The blood is dry." he swiped his fingers over the dried up blood on one of the tables. "It's to the point where it's turned black and is flaking apart. This means, they weren't just killed yesterday or today. When were they killed? When Abarai was beaten, and it was first announced that we were at war, the Central 46 Compound was completely locked down. No one was even allowed to come near this place. And until we forcefully broke in, the security wall was completely closed and showed no signs of being entered. In other words, all the decisions we were told were made by Central 46 were fake." Who did this? Was it Aizen? Or Ichimaru? Could they come so far on their own? Is there another collaborator?
At the foot of the winding staircase that led to Tula's Temple...
"Lieutenant Kira?" Kiyone blinked at the blond Lieutenant kneeling at the bottom of the staircase.
Sucking in a startled gasp, Kira's Reikaku picked up Hinamori's Reiatsu had left the recovery grounds of Squad 10 and was heading towards the Central 46 Chambers. "Tula-sama, I..." he looked at the teen Goddess.
"Please go." Tula gave him the go-ahead.
"Yes." Kira vanished in a Shunpo.
Outside the Central 46 judicial hall...
Still cloaked in the Reiatsu-dampening Kido she cast on herself, Hinamori stared at the butchered Central 46 after Hitsugaya and Matsumoto headed off in the direction of the Seijōtōkyorin. "What is this?" she whispered. "Central 46 is dead. Everyone... Hitsugaya was surprised. What does this mean? If Hitsugaya is the one who killed Captain Aizen, then isn't Hitsugaya also the one who did this? So the one who did this was Captain Ichimaru? So then, Hitsugaya... Captain Aizen!"
"Welcome, Hinamori." Ichimaru leaned his head over the bun-haired girl's shoulder. "Come here." he walked off.
"This is the Seijōtōkyorin." Hinamori blinked as Ichimaru led her to the living quarters of the Central 46. "This is the residential area for Central 46. Why are you taking me to this place?"
"Have you come here before, Hinamori?" Ichimaru asked, entered the building in the center.
"Isn't it completely restricted?" Hinamori asked, following Ichimaru. "It's my first time even seeing it."
"It's a favor for the person who wants to meet you." Ichimaru stated. "See, take a look." he turned towards the door. "Behind you."
"Captain Aizen!" Hinamori breathed in shock when Aizen came into view.
"Long time no see, Hinamori." Aizen greeted.
"Are you really Captain Aizen?" Hinamori asked. "You were supposed to be dead."
"I'm alive." Aizen assured. "Just as you see."
"Captain Aizen, I..." Hinamori stumbled towards her beloved Captain. "That female ryoka is lying, right? She isn't... you didn't..."
"I'm sorry." Aizen apologized. "I've made you worry; but I did try to murder that girl fifteen years ago."
"You did...?" Hinamori was shocked, as she stepped back. "Then, she is really... why, Captain Aizen?"
"With her rebirth, the Shishin Guardians will also be revived." Aizen droned. "Hitsugaya will abandon you upon the revival of the Vermilion Bird. You do not want that to happen, do you, Hinamori? You understand what must be done, don't you? Steal the Shishin Symbols for me." he smirked. "I will ensure that Suzaku acknowledges you as her Avatar. Then, Hitsugaya will never leave your side."
"But, that's..." Hinamori was shocked at Aizen's request, knowing very well that doing so would amount to high treason in the Winter Goddess' eyes.
"You would refuse me on this tiny request?" Aizen's eyes gleamed. "Then, it's goodbye." manifesting his Zanpakutō, he stabbed Hinamori through her stomach. "Let's go, Gin." he turned to the Squad 3 Captain. "We must destroy the Shishin Symbols before they activate."
"Okay, Captain Aizen." Ichimaru followed Aizen out, stepping over Hinamori's fallen body.
"Hey, Hitsugaya, Kira." Aizen greeted the two Shinigami who had also arrived.
"Aizen!" Hitsugaya was stunned.
"Tula-sama is right." Kira breathed. "You really are alive, traitor Aizen."
"Even so, the two of you managed to get out of the illusionary maze I created." Aizen praised. "I'm impressed."
"Where's Hinamori?" Hitsugaya demanded, looking around and seeing Hinamori was nowhere to be found.
"Now, I wonder where." Aizen shrugged.
"It can't be..." Kira's eyes focused on the door behind the two Captains and the two entered the building in a flash.
"Too bad, you found her." Aizen tsked, the pair of Shinigami were stunned to find the dying Hinamori on the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't plan on surprising you. I wonder if at the very least, I should have diced her into tiny pieces so that you wouldn't be able to find her."
"Kira, take care of Hinamori." Hitsugaya ordered. "Aizen, Ichimaru." he clutched his fist. "Since when did you team up? Was it before you faked your death?"
"Of course, it was from the start." Aizen replied. "Since I became a Captain, I have never thought of anyone else has my Lieutenant."
"So, up until now, Hinamori, me, your subordinates, the other Shinigami, everyone..." Hitsugaya hissed. "You were deceiving us?"
"I had no intentions of deceiving anyone." Aizen corrected. "It's just, no one understood the real me."
"Didn't understand?" Hitsugaya echoed. "Hinamori admired you. She joined the Gotei 13 just to be a little closer to you. She wanted to help you, so she worked insanely hard and finally became a Lieutenant like she wanted."
"I know." Aizen smirked. "There's nothing easier to manipulate than a person who admires you. That's why I pushed for her to be my subordinate. This is a good opportunity. You should remember this, Hitsugaya. Admiration is the furthest thing from understanding."
"Captain Hitsugaya, don't!" Kira warned, seeing the white-haired Captain reach for his Zanpakutō. "Have you forgotten what Tula-sama said about traitor Aizen's Zanpakutō?"
"Complete hypnosis..." Hitsugaya remembered. "You're right, Kira."
Just then, Unohana and Isane entered the scene.
"Captain Aizen." Unohana stated. "No, you no longer have the right to be called Captain: the traitorous criminal, Aizen Sousuke."
"Thank you, Captain Unohana." Aizen greeted. "I thought that it was about time for you to come, if you could. Did you realize I was here easily?"
"If you really want to know how, the Seijōtōkyorin in the Spirit Court is the only place in Soul Society that is completely restricted." Unohana explained. "For you to make a elaborate corpse doll just to hide yourself, there is no other place you would go than the most safe and difficult to find place; the Spirit Court."
"So close." Aizen tsked. "Your analyzation is good, but there are two mistakes. The first one is that I did not come here in order to hide. And then the other one..." he held out a replica of himself. "This is not a corpse doll."
"When did you..." Isane was shocked.
"When did I get this?" Aizen echoed. "I was holding it in this hand, right from the start. It's just that I did not let you see it that way until now."
"What does that mean?" Isane breathed.
"You'll understand soon." Aizen grinned. "There, I'll release it. Scatter, Kyōka Suigetsu." he broke the illusion, revealing his Zanpakutō. "My Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, just has the Winter Princess has surmised, has an ability called 'Complete Hypnotism'."
"But Kyōka Suigetsu is a flowing water-type Zanpakutō that uses diffused reflection is mist and flowing water to confuse enemies and create war between comrades." Isane protested. "Isn't that what you told me, Captain Aizen? You gathered up all of us Lieutenants and actually showed it to us."
"I see." Unohana realized. "So that is the ceremony for the hypnotism."
"Correct." Aizen smirked. "'Complete Hypnotism' controls all five senses, creating a single figure, form, energy, touch and smell. It can deceive the enemy with all of those. In other words, I could make a fly look like a dragon, and a swamp a field of flowers. And all it takes to be released is to show Kyōka Suigetsu being released in front of the enemy. Anyone who has seen it even once, falls under the complete hypnotism from that instant on. Until I release Kyōka Suigetsu, they are trapped within the complete hypnotism."
"Just seeing it once..." Unohana echoed, then she realized that besides Ichimaru, Aizen had another accomplice.
"It seems you've realized it." Aizen noted. "Right, to fall under the technique after seeing it once, means that someone who cannot see cannot fall under the spell. In other words, Tōsen Kaname was my underling from the very start."
Elsewhere...
Carrying Rukia, Renji was fleeing when Tōsen appeared in front of them. Unwrapping a long strip of white cloth from his arm, he teleported all three of them back to the Sōkyoku Hill.
Back in the Seijōtōkyorin...
"Lastly, I shall praise you." Aizen remarked, Ichimaru pulling out a similar cloth. "Regardless of touching my hand for a while as part of the examination, it was impressive that you were still able to sense something slightly off with my dead body, while under my completely hypnosis, Captain Unohana. Farewell. I will not see you again."
"Wait!" Isane rushed towards to the traitorous Captains, Zanpakutō drawn when the cloth let out a blinding light that encased the two Captains, teleporting them off.
On the Sōkyoku Hill...
"Welcome, Abarai." Aizen greeted, arriving just as Tōsen did. "Leave Kuchiki Rukia."
Omake: Shinigami Illustrated Picture Guide
Kon (In Ichigo's body): (Thinking) Why'd my sexy body get turned into a strap, and why's it hanging off that kid? Damnit, I'll get it back. No matter what.
Whistle blows, signaling the start of the game.
Jinta: Eat my 'Jinta Dribble!' Anyone in my way is mincemeat... (Stops suddenly due to Kon jumping him)
Whistle blows, pausing the game.
Neighborhood Kid #2: (Sweatdrops) What're they doing? (Turns to referee) That's against the rules! (Ururu waves, shaking her head) What? OK? Wait a sec, she was a referee...
Chibi Ichigo: (Pops up in the corner of the screen) When the hell're you gonna start doing the Shinigami Illustrated Guide?
SailorStar9: In the next chapter, at Unohana's command, Isane Kotetsu informs all high-ranking members of the Gotei 13 of Aizen's duplicity. Aizen arrives at Rukia's execution site, where Tōsen has brought Rukia and Renji. When Aizen asks Renji to leave Rukia, he refuses and begins to fight Aizen. Ichigo also arrives, and the two fight in unison against Aizen. Aizen defeats both of them, and begins to explain his reasons for betraying the Soul Society until he is interrupted by Komamura.
